News

Two new shows!

Huge thanks to RTÉ, BAI, and IFB for their support on our new series Critters.TV. It's very early days yet, but we're thrilled at the prospect of working once again with director Ian Benjamin Kenny, as well as the talented folks at Crossing The Line Productions.

On the more immediate front, our short Zoot & Friends airs this Monday (30th Oct) on RTÉ Jnr - at 07:15, 11:30 & 16:45. Created by Adam Kavanagh and Gareth Lyons, Zoot & Friends introduces young audiences to the fundamental principals of computer coding, through the antics of two colourful robots..

About

Turnip & Duck is an award-winning, Dublin-based production company producing a variety of work across TV, radio and digital platforms. Bringing together the producing and writing talents of Colm Tobin and Aidan O'Donovan, the company was established in 2016 to develop and produce original IP, with a particular focus on animation and off-kilter comedy for kids.

As well as our own projects, Turnip & Duck offers services to the wider animation and production sector in Ireland and beyond. Our expertise is in comedy writing, producing and VO directing but we love all sorts of collaborations! Give us a shout!

In Development

New projects we're working on.

Critters.TV

15 x 11' wildlife comedy

It's very early days of development and we can't say too much yet, but we're very excited about our new series based around the wildlife of the Irish countryside.

Critters.TV is a mixed media (animation & live action) series developed with our long time collaborator Ian Benjamin Kenny, and in association with Crossing The Line Productions!

Brain Freeze High

26 x 11' science-based comedy

STEM-based comedy series focusing on Media Litercy, Brain Freeze High follows the adventures of an elite group of eight year olds chosen to attend the most high-flying school in the known universe!

Brain Freeze High is a mixed media project (puppets & 2D animation) co-produced with our friends at Kite Entertainment, and was pitched to an enthusiastic audience of broadcasters and producers at Cartoon Forum 2017!

Surviving Ireland: Digital Detox

Radio Comedy Special

Holly & Declan are a young couple addicted to technology, and in particular their smartphones. Colm Tobin follows them to a digital detox centre on the island of Carnananánachán where they undergo a bizarre, back-to-basics detox programme that tests their relationship to its limit.

GOLD MEDAL winner for BEST WRITING at this year's New York Festivals - World's Best Radio Programs. Also nominated for Best Comedy Special.

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Surviving Ireland

Imagine a place where you could go to completely escape the constant distraction of online life? A remote island where all digital devices are confiscated on arrival and where you are returned to a simpler way of life?

In this RTÉ Radio 1 Comedy production, comedy writer and producer Colm Tobin visits a boutique digital detox centre on the island of Carnananaunachán to follow the journey of Holly (Stefanie Preissner) and Declan (Aidan O’Donovan), a smartphone-dependent couple from Dublin.

Holly is a self-styled social influencer and online opinion manipulator who lives with her partner Declan, a trainee barber in one of Dublin’s hippest grooming salons. They have created a popular personal brand for themselves online and since doing so have found themselves becoming increasingly dependent on their phones. Declan has signed them up for this digital detox bootcamp in an effort to get Holly to put the phone down and pay him more attention. But she has no idea what he has signed them up for.

Once they reach the shore, our pilgrims set forth on a very unconventional course of treatment designed to reprogramme them to appreciate the simpler things in life. This programme is run by the eccentric pairing of Brother Ponzi Fantastic (Barry Murphy) and his matriarchal sidekick Bean Ní Shuilleabháin (Deirdre O’ Kane).

Over the course of the next seven days, Colm Tobin observes the couple’s journey as they are led through a series of increasingly surreal treatment modules from cloud appreciation to appreciating your food without having to photograph it and share it online first.

When Holly breaks one of the most fundamental rules of the programme, however, things start to get uncomfortably real for the couple and the bizarre series of events that follow could shake their relationship to its very core.

Surviving Ireland was written, produced and performed by Aidan O'Donovan & Colm Tobin and featured Stefanie Preissner, Deirdre O'Kane and Barry Murphy.

Recording was by Liam Geraghty and Rachel Ní Chuinn with Sound Supervision by Mark Dwyer.

Surviving Ireland is a Turnip & Duck Production for RTÉ Radio 1 and was produced in association with Kite Entertainment

Brain Freeze

Education by Stealth

A science-based show for 8-12 year olds attempting to answer BIG QUESTIONS! Presented by the anchoring duo Dr Sorcha Knowles and Professor Mike McCork, with Colin the Floor Manager and boss, Ms. Hucklebuck completing the ensemble.

Six time nominee at the Irish Animation Awards and Winner of the 2015 Kids Choice Award for Best Animated Series.

About

Colm Tobin

Colm Tobin is a Dublin-based comedy writer, producer and journalist.

Originally from the wilds of West Cork, Colm began his career in the Limerick-based student radio station Wired FM and has since produced and/or written a wide range of TV comedy, children’s animation, radio, web and print projects. These include the satirical website and TV show Langerland and the children's series Science Fiction and Brain Freeze. Brain Freeze ran on CBBC and RTÉ for three seasons, over 44 episodes, and the series is distributed worldwide by Aardman. In 2017 Colm established Turnip & Duck Ltd. with long-term collaborator Aidan O'Donovan.

As a writer, Colm has also written for radio and TV on Barry Murphy’s Irish Pictorial Weekly writing team. His first book Surviving Ireland was published by Transworld Ireland in 2015 and he writes a fortnightly column for The Irish Edition of The Times.

Colm holds a degree in Law & European Studies from UL and a Masters in Music & Media Technologies from Trinity College Dublin.

Aidan O'Donovan

Aidan O'Donovan is a writer, producer and performer based in Dublin.

He began producing web cartoons in the early 2000s while studying Multimedia, and transitioned to TV with the satirical animation series, Langerland.

Aidan has gone on to write and perform on kids TV series, Science Fiction, and the award-winning Brain Freeze, produced for CBBC & RTÉ, and distributed worldwide by Aardman.

In 2017 he formed the production company Turnip & Duck along with long-time collaborator Colm Tobin. They are continuing to develop new content for children's TV, while also exploring new forms of storytelling for wider audiences, including a new series of comedy radio podcasts for RTÉ Radio One.

Aidan also holds an honours degree in Jazz Performance, and has worked professionally as a session musician and music educator.

Langerland's "What Have The Brits Ever Done For Us?", winner of the Best New Irish Animation Award at the 2005 Galway Film Fleadh.